Means for stacking articles



March 2, 1943. J. R. JASON 2,312,8 1

MEANS FOR STACKING ARTICLES Filed April 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheefl I 4 a i i 6 7 l a J 3 i 4 i 7 I J. R. JASON MEANS FOR STACKING ARTICLES March 2, 1943,

Filed April 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR STACKING ARTICLES Jacob R. Jason, New York, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1940, Serial No. 330,386

Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in packaging rimmed articles, for example such as hats. Particularly the invention relates to means to support a series of such rimmed articles stacked one above the other but separate from each other. In particular, the present invention may be illustrated by a stack of hats in a hat box out of substantial contact with each other and suspended in such a way as not to acquire creases or dents or marks on the hats.

A purpose of this invention is to suspend a hat, for example, by the inner band or other rimmed portion, by means which combine extreme simplicity of manufacture with adjustability to various positions in a container. A purpose moreover is to afiix a suspending element in simple manner so as to utilize the walls of the container to impart flexibility of position to the supporting elements. These and other objects will be apparent in the ensuing description of this invention taken with the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments of the invention. The invention will be more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 shows in vertical section a plurality of hats suspended or stacked one above the other but out of contact with each other;

Figure 2 shows in top plan view a hat supported by the wall of a container and by an arm extending therefrom;

Figure 3 illustrates a modification of this invention in vertical perspectiv in which some flexibility of horizontal position i imparted by the walls of the container to a suspending element;

' Figure 4 shows a cross section througha container wall with a suspending element in plan view;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a double supporting element taken alone;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a double supporting element embodying a modification to accomplish adjustability of the arms of the element; I

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a single arm of a supporting element having an adjustable arm;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modification of a single arm of a supporting element having an adjustable arm. I

According to this invention, a container wall is provided in which are staple-like eyes with a vertical supporting base fitting through the eye and bearing against the wall of the container.

. loop 6 rises to slip under the inner hat band T Thus is formed a base leverage to support a horizontal arm and terminal vertical loop for engaging the rim of a hat or other article to be stacked. Various specific modifications of this invention will be illustrated.

The invention is designed to support rimmed articles by engagement at the inner edge of the rim by means of brackets. The brackets are spaced horizontally to engage the-inner part of the rim at separated points, usually at opposite positions and the brackets are attached at the outer ends to supporting mean such as the walls of a box or riser elements such as vertical standards in the case of heavy articles. This latter construction enables the articles to be placed on the brackets and the brackets then detachably or permanently secured on riser elements. The brackets are preferably long enough to space the outer parts of the article from the riser elements.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, 'a container is shown having a flexible wall I. Inserted through the wall are simple wire eyelets to form loops 2 at suitable positions. In preferred form as shown loops 2 are horizontal. The wall is shown with an inner panel flexibly attached thereto in the area through which the-eyelets extend. This may be accomplished by afiixing a piece of flexible material, such for example, as an additional piece of cardboard 3 similar to that of the container wall. This is shown particularly in Figure 3 to be stapled in simple manner to the inside of the container wall so as to afiord some measure of flexibility or some amount of bulging inwardly to attain slight adjustment horizontally of the arms in which the rimmed articles are to be supported;

loop base rests against the cardboard. Extending horizontally therefrom at the top of the loop is H horizontal-arm 5 of the wire support, terminating inwardly in a double loop; that is to say, ina vertical looped portion 6. This rising loop is adapted tofit under the rimmed portion of the article to be supported. In the form shown, the supporting arm is double with a pair of vertical base loops 4 instead of a single base. These ter-' minate inwardly in the common vertical loop 6'. a

As applied to hats as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the horizontal arms 5 converge so that the inner at opposite sides of the hat.

With a series of hats, the weight imposedvon theinner supplemental wall piece 3results in flexibility such that the arms 5 vmay move away from the wall of the container in some slight degree to accommodate various hat sizes.

However, accommodation may be accomplished with a modification of the invention in which horizontal arms 5 themselves are variable in their extension away from the wall. Such are illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

In Figure 6 horizontal arms 5 are in two separate parts. One portion 5a terminates in a coil 8 which may be more or less spring-like. The other portion 5b extends through the coil of the portion 5a and at the end is upset or enlarged so as not to slide out of the coil. Thus: the rigidity of the arm 5 is maintained, but the arm is extensible. In this way not only is' the loop 6 common to the horizontal arm adjusted to difierent hat sizes, but the arms also accommodate themselves to differences in widthof brim of hat. In this way, an exceedingly simpleand inexpensive form of support is adapted for packaging of such diverse forms of bat asa derby, for example, in the. same box with a broad brimmedStetson. Nevertheless, on some other' occasion the entire series of hats maybe oione" kind but yet the supporting arms are readilyadjustable thereto.

A structural advantage that may be embodied inthis invention is illustrated in Figure 6'. The riser portions IU of the staple-engaging loop 4 is: terminated in an end that isdirected away" from the supporting staple toward the inner portion-of the container. Thus a person may readily grasp the free leg ill of the staple-engagingloop so as to press the loop for insertion or for removal from the staple. This structural advantage may be embodied not only in the particular form illustrated in Figure 6 but in other modifications of this invention.

In another form of extensible arm shown in Figure '7, arm 5 is in two parts 50 and 5d, which terminate in overlapping relationship to each other; The two ends are held in-assemblyby' an encircling coil 9. The coil is held from slipping off from either of the ends 50 or "5d by a suitable stop at the end of each arm; lnFigure 7',.'.the; ends of the coil 9 terminate in discs while" the respective arm ends extend through the cor responding discsand are enlarged or'upset so not" to be withdrawable through those discs. In

the form shown in Figure 7, a-sing-le arm-isshown' but this showing is not intended as a limitation. Asinglearm as shown may be used or a similar construction may be presented in-doublearme'd retainer such as illustrated in Figures 5-6;

for example.

Figure 8 shows another modificationto: illustrate the .variety'of' forms of .arm :5 thatare appropriate... In theFigure 8-modification, inwhich arm 5 is. in. two parts-5e. and=15i--each: pant tel":-

minates in a simple .loop that encircles the. straight portion of the other end, 51: andtexre spectivel-y. Thus the two ends. are held closato: each other, but rigid horizontallypand yet-en tensible: horizontally.

In the various forms of. arm,.thevertical-basebut yet .consists of anv exceedingly simple. :and

inexpensive structure..

'In thus describing this invention, the forms This is preferably :in. the-free:

Thus the retainer base .resistsinssizes.

shown are not intended to be limiting but to be illustrative. The particular wire arms are exceedingly simple in form and simple to manufacture and are inexpensive. This adds considerably to utility in the field of use illustrated, inasmuch as exceedingly inexpensive containers are requisite. Moreover, in the form shown with the loop eye, these retaining arms are easy to apply. Cheap labor may insert the required fastening staples to the container wall. Moreover, in convenience such forms of looped retaining arms excel because readily removable or readily interchangeable if need be. In the extensible forms illustrated by Figures 6 and 7, there is at once accommodation to various hat sizes and brim Further, resilience of the panel mounting taken with resilience of the light wire arms aids in relieving the hats from pressure or wear marks. An objection to many previous forms of hat supports has been the fact that they cause marks gradually toappear on hats supported thereby.

This invention has been illustrated with reference tothe stacking of hats and to such use the invention is particularly valuable, but this invention is applicable to other articles that involve similar problems. For exa-mplelamp shades are similar delicate articles that require care in packing. 0n the other hand, ease and adaptability as found in this invention may be useful when such relatively heavy articles as automobile tires areto-be' supported on opposed arm's, particularly where adjustability and extensibility of the arms are desirable.

Although I have described this invention in accord'ance with the patent statutes and have illustrated its principles by reference to a practice that is at present preferred, it will now be apparentto'those skilled in this art that alterations and changes of detail are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

What'I claim is:

I. Hat hanger adapted to be used in opposed pairs" to suspend alrat in a hat box, comprising a resilient bent wire member having its ha-tward end including a middle loop with bight upstandin'g: adapted to engage behind thesweat ban'ctof an inverted hat, and wire portions adjacent the lower ends of the sides of saidmiddle loop bent upward and outward. substantially in a vertical plane, and having a boxward end'lcomprising a pair of. loops with. downwardly .extendinghights adapted to seat in horizontallydisposed retaining sockets on the side of ahat box, andliori zontal arms connecting said downwardly extending loops to said vertically disposed wire portions. said arms diverging in a boxward direction .at suchrepose angle as to space the downwardlyexr ten-ding loops a greater distance apart than the socketswith which they are designed to cooperate, 2. Hat hanger as claimed inclaim 1 saidlarms being sectional,.-one section being formed into a,

resilient coil;, the other section being slidalole through said coil and frict'ionally gripped thereby.

3. Hat hanger as claimedi-n claim l, saidarms being sectional, with adjacentendportionsof the sections lapping, and compression springsre tained between. said lapping portions resisting elongation of said arms. I

4i Furnishing fbr a hat' box adapted -to beused in plurality for suspending a hat outof.--.c.ont act with. the Walls of the .hatv box comprising-aw panel adapted to. 1belsecured in upright position :torthe inside of. the wall. of .the hat bo'x having a! nor-i zontal loop pro ecting from the inner side thereof,

Wardly extending inner portion the terminal part of which is diverted upwardly to engage within the sweat band.

5. Furnishing for a hat box as claimed in claim 4, said substantially horizontal arm being formed of sections extensibly connected.

JACOB R. JASON. 

